As I said in my predictions piece, this is a very winnable game for the
Redskins. If Jason Campbell can hit on a few long passes--a tougher task against
a Rams secondary that has more speed than does that of New Orleans--they could
win going away. It goes without saying, of course, that turnovers will kill them;
they're not strong enough
offensively to overcome turnovers.

First Quarter

(14:50) A good news/bad news start for the defense. Shawn Springs
plays the deep ball perfectly, but drops a pick right in his hands. Earlier in
the year they weren't even getting close enough to get their hands on the ball,
so the improvement is noted but it's still not enough.

(12:18) I'll go back and check but I think that this is the third week
in a row that Ladell Betts has started off the game with a run of about 10
yards. He needs 67 to get to 1,000 for the year and he could get it by midway
through the second quarter.

(8:24) The offensive line is just blowing the Rams out of there. Betts
gets 25 on five carries and then Duckett comes in to finish off the drive with
two carries for 16 and a touchdown.

(6:41) Duckett 5 run (Suisham kick) Redskins 7, Rams 0

(6:41) Bulger talked about some Rams quitting a few weeks ago. Clearly
you can't judge that on one drive, but if the Skins put together another drive
or two like that and the defense can hold together some Rams could start to lose
their edge.

(5:22) An ugly three and out gives the ball right back to the
Redskins. The less-than sellout crowd is getting on the Rams already. Time for
the Skins to take control.

(5:05) The best way to get the ball in Randle El's hands as a runner
is the straight end around. The trickeration doesn't seem to trick anyone. Just
give him the ball, let him get around end, and go. The result was 17 yards to
start out the drive.

(1:43) The Redskins are flying to the ball. Curtis took the ball on an end
around with what looked like a lot of running room, but it disappeared in a
hurry.

Second Quarter

(13:36) Springs is out with a shoulder injury and Kenny Wright is OK
at CB, but that puts Ade Jimoh at nickel back and that's not good. The Rams get
a ticky-tack pass interference call on him to convert a third and 16.

(13:01) Bruce 10 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick) Redskins 7, Rams 7

(13:01) A good call to overturn the incompletion and give the Rams a
touchdown. Bruce gained control of the ball just in time. So much for putting
them away early. With Springs out this could become the shootout that the
Redskins needed to avoid.

(12:02) Campbell was wild high on two straight passes leading to a
three and out. That's two weeks in a row now where he's started out hot and then
has cooled considerably in the second quarter. Something for the coaching staff
to mull over and analyze over the offseason.

(9:49) Byrd 27 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick) Rams 14, Redskins 7

(9:49) This could get ugly for the Redskins now. That drive was just
too easy for the Rams.

(9:40) It looks like Campbell is going to have to loosen up the Rams
defense a little bit. They're swarming in on Betts and Campbell needs to get
hot.

(9:02) He's now 0 for his last six. He's had time to throw for the
most part, but he's just misfiring.

(6:59) There's nothing like a blocked punt to pick up a struggling offense.
Vernon Fox came right up the gut and blocked Matt Turk's punt cleanly. First and
goal at the eight is a good place to start a drive.

(6:14) Betts 6 run (Suisham kick) Redskins 14, Rams 14

(6:14) It's the 15th game of the season and that was the first time
that the Redskins have take possession inside the other team's 20. That goes a
long way towards explaining their woes this season. Every once in a while the
offense needs an easy drive for six like that.

(6:07) Nemo Broughton is active today; he just made the tackle on the
kickoff.

(5:59) There was some talk last spring of the Redskins signing Isaac
Bruce as a free agent. It might have been worthwhile if only to have him on
their side this game. He's killing the Skins secondary.

(4:25) Great pursuit again by the Washington defense. Jackson took a
toss on third and three and was swarmed under after a gain of just one.

(3:35) My favorite new play that Saunders has come up with is the one
where Campbell pump fakes and then hands it off on a draw to Betts. It was good
for 23 yards on second and ten.

(2:29) But they went to that well once too often as the went for a
loss of five a few snaps later.

(1:53) Betts is now over 1,000 for the year. More importantly, they
have a first and 10 at the St. Louis 25.

(1:32) Campbell is getting back into a rhythm now. He's dropping back
and firing instead of thinking too much.

(0:21) That time Campbell thought and it worked out. Cooley was his
second or third option on the TD pass and he went through his reads and made a
good throw. Of course the fact that the O-line is giving him plenty of time to
run through those progressions and that's making a big difference.

Third Quarter

(13:28) Chris Cooley is clearly Campbell's go-to guy, not just today
but the whole time he's been in the game. Note to self to check who's the
leading receiver in the Campbell era.

(13:04) Casey Rabach looked like he was hurting there after a run by
Betts, but he's back in. He barely even has a cast on with four screws in his
left hand. One tough hombre.

(10:38) It looks like Brandon Lloyd has been buried deep on the bench.
James Thrash is getting more snaps and Mike Sellers is going deep
downfield.

(8:49) An excellent, patient run by Betts. He followed Sellers and cut
into the end zone at exactly the right moment.

(8:49) Betts 7 run (Suisham kick) Redskins 28, Rams 14

(8:49) Now the Rams don't have to throw every snap or anything, but
they can't afford to be real patient, either. Rogers is doing a good job on Holt
and Jackson, who came into the game with 82 catches, hasn't done much receiving
either. But Bruce is doing well working against whoever is covering him (hard to
tell who it is as nobody is near him).

(8:42) The heck with Ryan Clark. Vernon Fox is starting at safety,
he's blocked a punt and he just made a nice tackle on kickoff coverage. Then
Gibbs' headset went down and Fox made the needed repairs. OK, just kidding about
that part, but he's had a heck of a game.

(6:30) Good play by Jackson, but some pretty poor technique downfield
by Taylor. He was in between the back and the ball carrier and you have to
attack. You can't let him get by you, but Jackson did just that.

(5:42) The Rams are doing a lot of run blitzing. They're not getting
to Campbell much, but they are getting Betts in the backfield with some
regularity. They have to make them pay for that.

(3:05) That catch and run apparently energized Jackson and took some wind out
of Washington's sails. He's on a roll, picking up good chunks of yardage every
time he carries the ball.

(1:49) Davis 10 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick) Redskins 28, Rams 28

(1:49) An excellent play call by the Rams there. The Redskins were
blitzing and the shovel pass was the perfect call.

(1:00) With all the time he's had to throw it would be good to see
Campbell throw one deep. He's gone to Moss twice short, time to unleash one to
him about 40 yards downfield.

(0:15) The Redskins' tackling is starting to deteriorate here. They
may need a turnover or another blocked kick of they're going to pull this one
off.

Fourth Quarter

(12:06) A 28-yard run by Bulger. It's just not the Redskins' day when
that happens. I'm not sure who was supposed to be in the middle of the field
there. The Rams are knocking at the door again.

(8:40) At home, the Rams get two false start flags after a first and
goal situation.

(7:57) FG Wilkins 21 Rams 31, Redskins 28

(7:57) Not exactly a two-minute situation, but it's critical that
Campbell moves the team down the field to a score here. It's not good to see the
defense play poorly as they have but it's good to get Campbell into situations
like this.

(6:23) That was a bad three and out there if only because the defense
is tiring and they need a breather. Now they have to go right back in there.
It's up to the defense now and that's not good the way this one has been going.

(5:24) Third down here. The Rams converted a few of them on their last
drive, if the D wants to get off the field now's the time to do it.

(4:36) The Skins get the turnover they need. Will this game take one
last turn?

(3:21) FG Suisham 52 Redskins 31, Rams 31

(3:31) Suisham would have made that one from close to 60. He boomed
it. I don't like the fact that the Skins took two timeouts in that sequence
there. It should be close to the 2:00 warning but as it is the Rams have plenty
of time to respond.

(2:40) That wasn't even close, Holt's second foot was well out of
bounds. It's a good thing that there are just 40 seconds to go before it goes to
booth review otherwise it would be a burned challenge that never needed to be
taken.

(2:32) A third and short stop for the defense. McIntosh came running
in from the sideline as the ball was snapped and made the stop.

(2:02) Betts has been coughing the ball up during his nice run of
games here. This one cost the Redskins a chance at the win. The defense is now
back on the field trying to send it into overtime.

(1:26) A third-down dagger by Bulger gets the Rams out of the hole and
on the move.

(0:00) Wilkins missed it! The Redskins get another shot, it's going
into overtime.

Overtime

(14:56) The defense is up first. They need to do a better job this
time than at the end of regulation. Wilkins isn't going to miss two of those.

(12:55) The blitz is starting to take effect. Bulger completed a long
one to Bruce while getting hit by Carter, but it misdirected throws on second
and third down.

(12:40) The Skins will be starting from the three. They will earn it
if they pull it out here.

(11:09) Very soft running by Duckett on third and one. The Rams will have
good field position, a lot of pressure will be on the defense.

(10:32) That was a bad time for the first instance of bad coverage on the
Redskins part today. One first down and the Rams will have an easy FG attempt.

(8:27) Jackson 21 run Rams 37, Redskins 31

The didn't want to rely on Wilkins again and they kept on hammering for the
winning TD.

Rich Tandler is the
author of The Redskins From A to Z, Volume 1: The Games. This unique book
has an account of every game the Redskins played from when they moved to
Washington for the 1937 season through 2001. For details and ordering
information go to http://www.RedskinsGames.com

As I said in my predictions piece, this is a very winnable game for the Redskins. If Jason Campbell can hit on a few long passes--a tougher task against a Rams secondary that has more speed than does that of New Orleans--they could win going away. It goes without saying, of course, that turnovers will kill them;\r\nthey're not strong enough\r\noffensively to overcome turnovers.

First Quarter

(14:50) A good news/bad news start for the defense. Shawn Springs plays the deep ball perfectly, but drops a pick right in his hands. Earlier in the year they weren't even getting close enough to get their hands on the ball, so the improvement is noted but it's still not enough.

(12:18) I'll go back and check but I think that this is the third week in a row that Ladell Betts has started off the game with a run of about 10 yards. He needs 67 to get to 1,000 for the year and he could get it by midway through the second quarter.

(8:24) The offensive line is just blowing the Rams out of there. Betts gets 25 on five carries and then Duckett comes in to finish off the drive with two carries for 16 and a touchdown.

(6:41) Duckett 5 run (Suisham kick) Redskins 7, Rams 0

(6:41) Bulger talked about some Rams quitting a few weeks ago. Clearly you can't judge that on one drive, but if the Skins put together another drive or two like that and the defense can hold together some Rams could start to lose their edge.

(5:22) An ugly three and out gives the ball right back to the Redskins. The less-than sellout crowd is getting on the Rams already. Time for the Skins to take control.

(5:05) The best way to get the ball in Randle El's hands as a runner is the straight end around. The trickeration doesn't seem to trick anyone. Just give him the ball, let him get around end, and go. The result was 17 yards to start out the drive.

(1:43) The Redskins are flying to the ball. Curtis took the ball on an end around with what looked like a lot of running room, but it disappeared in a hurry.

Second Quarter

(13:36) Springs is out with a shoulder injury and Kenny Wright is OK at CB, but that puts Ade Jimoh at nickel back and that's not good. The Rams get a ticky-tack pass interference call on him to convert a third and 16.

(13:01) Bruce 10 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick) Redskins 7, Rams 7

(13:01) A good call to overturn the incompletion and give the Rams a touchdown. Bruce gained control of the ball just in time. So much for putting them away early. With Springs out this could become the shootout that the Redskins needed to avoid.

(12:02) Campbell was wild high on two straight passes leading to a three and out. That's two weeks in a row now where he's started out hot and then has cooled considerably in the second quarter. Something for the coaching staff to mull over and analyze over the offseason.

(9:49) Byrd 27 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick) Rams 14, Redskins 7

(9:49) This could get ugly for the Redskins now. That drive was just too easy for the Rams.

(9:40) It looks like Campbell is going to have to loosen up the Rams defense a little bit. They're swarming in on Betts and Campbell needs to get hot.

(9:02) He's now 0 for his last six. He's had time to throw for the most part, but he's just misfiring.

(6:59) There's nothing like a blocked punt to pick up a struggling offense. Vernon Fox came right up the gut and blocked Matt Turk's punt cleanly. First and goal at the eight is a good place to start a drive.

(6:14) Betts 6 run (Suisham kick) Redskins 14, Rams 14

(6:14) It's the 15th game of the season and that was the first time that the Redskins have take possession inside the other team's 20. That goes a long way towards explaining their woes this season. Every once in a while the offense needs an easy drive for six like that.

(6:07) Nemo Broughton is active today; he just made the tackle on the kickoff.

(5:59) There was some talk last spring of the Redskins signing Isaac Bruce as a free agent. It might have been worthwhile if only to have him on their side this game. He's killing the Skins secondary.

(4:25) Great pursuit again by the Washington defense. Jackson took a toss on third and three and was swarmed under after a gain of just one.

(3:35) My favorite new play that Saunders has come up with is the one where Campbell pump fakes and then hands it off on a draw to Betts. It was good for 23 yards on second and ten.

(2:29) But they went to that well once too often as the went for a loss of five a few snaps later.

(1:53) Betts is now over 1,000 for the year. More importantly, they have a first and 10 at the St. Louis 25.

(1:32) Campbell is getting back into a rhythm now. He's dropping back and firing instead of thinking too much.

(0:21) That time Campbell thought and it worked out. Cooley was his second or third option on the TD pass and he went through his reads and made a good throw. Of course the fact that the O-line is giving him plenty of time to run through those progressions and that's making a big difference.

Third Quarter

(13:28) Chris Cooley is clearly Campbell's go-to guy, not just today but the whole time he's been in the game. Note to self to check who's the leading receiver in the Campbell era.

(13:04) Casey Rabach looked like he was hurting there after a run by Betts, but he's back in. He barely even has a cast on with four screws in his left hand. One tough hombre.

(10:38) It looks like Brandon Lloyd has been buried deep on the bench. James Thrash is getting more snaps and Mike Sellers is going deep downfield.

(8:49) An excellent, patient run by Betts. He followed Sellers and cut into the end zone at exactly the right moment.

(8:49) Betts 7 run (Suisham kick) Redskins 28, Rams 14

(8:49) Now the Rams don't have to throw every snap or anything, but they can't afford to be real patient, either. Rogers is doing a good job on Holt and Jackson, who came into the game with 82 catches, hasn't done much receiving either. But Bruce is doing well working against whoever is covering him (hard to tell who it is as nobody is near him).

(8:42) The heck with Ryan Clark. Vernon Fox is starting at safety, he's blocked a punt and he just made a nice tackle on kickoff coverage. Then Gibbs' headset went down and Fox made the needed repairs. OK, just kidding about that part, but he's had a heck of a game.

(6:30) Good play by Jackson, but some pretty poor technique downfield by Taylor. He was in between the back and the ball carrier and you have to attack. You can't let him get by you, but Jackson did just that.

(5:42) The Rams are doing a lot of run blitzing. They're not getting to Campbell much, but they are getting Betts in the backfield with some regularity. They have to make them pay for that.

(3:05) That catch and run apparently energized Jackson and took some wind out of Washington's sails. He's on a roll, picking up good chunks of yardage every time he carries the ball.

(1:49) Davis 10 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick) Redskins 28, Rams 28

(1:49) An excellent play call by the Rams there. The Redskins were blitzing and the shovel pass was the perfect call.

(1:00) With all the time he's had to throw it would be good to see Campbell throw one deep. He's gone to Moss twice short, time to unleash one to him about 40 yards downfield.

(0:15) The Redskins' tackling is starting to deteriorate here. They may need a turnover or another blocked kick of they're going to pull this one off.

Fourth Quarter

(12:06) A 28-yard run by Bulger. It's just not the Redskins' day when that happens. I'm not sure who was supposed to be in the middle of the field there. The Rams are knocking at the door again.

(8:40) At home, the Rams get two false start flags after a first and goal situation.

(7:57) FG Wilkins 21 Rams 31, Redskins 28

(7:57) Not exactly a two-minute situation, but it's critical that Campbell moves the team down the field to a score here. It's not good to see the defense play poorly as they have but it's good to get Campbell into situations like this.

(6:23) That was a bad three and out there if only because the defense is tiring and they need a breather. Now they have to go right back in there. It's up to the defense now and that's not good the way this one has been going.

(5:24) Third down here. The Rams converted a few of them on their last drive, if the D wants to get off the field now's the time to do it.

(4:36) The Skins get the turnover they need. Will this game take one last turn?

(3:21) FG Suisham 52 Redskins 31, Rams 31

(3:31) Suisham would have made that one from close to 60. He boomed it. I don't like the fact that the Skins took two timeouts in that sequence there. It should be close to the 2:00 warning but as it is the Rams have plenty of time to respond.

(2:40) That wasn't even close, Holt's second foot was well out of bounds. It's a good thing that there are just 40 seconds to go before it goes to booth review otherwise it would be a burned challenge that never needed to be taken.

(2:32) A third and short stop for the defense. McIntosh came running in from the sideline as the ball was snapped and made the stop.

(2:02) Betts has been coughing the ball up during his nice run of games here. This one cost the Redskins a chance at the win. The defense is now back on the field trying to send it into overtime.

(1:26) A third-down dagger by Bulger gets the Rams out of the hole and on the move.

(0:00) Wilkins missed it! The Redskins get another shot, it's going into overtime.

Overtime

(14:56) The defense is up first. They need to do a better job this time than at the end of regulation. Wilkins isn't going to miss two of those.

(12:55) The blitz is starting to take effect. Bulger completed a long one to Bruce while getting hit by Carter, but it misdirected throws on second and third down.

(12:40) The Skins will be starting from the three. They will earn it if they pull it out here.

(11:09) Very soft running by Duckett on third and one. The Rams will have good field position, a lot of pressure will be on the defense.

(10:32) That was a bad time for the first instance of bad coverage on the Redskins part today. One first down and the Rams will have an easy FG attempt.

(8:27) Jackson 21 run Rams 37, Redskins 31

The didn't want to rely on Wilkins again and they kept on hammering for the winning TD.

Rich Tandler is the author of The Redskins From A to Z, Volume 1: The Games. This unique book has an account of every game the Redskins played from when they moved to Washington for the 1937 season through 2001. For details and ordering information go to http://www.RedskinsGames.com